Senator Win Gatchalian is set to file a bold legislative measure that would ban companies previously owned by politicians from undertaking government infrastructure initiatives, including flood control projects.

If enacted into law, the measure would lead to sweeping reforms in the implementation of government projects and is expected to effectively curb corruption, the senator said.

“A contractor or company previously owned by politicians will be barred from joining government contracts,” Gatchalian said, pointing out that divestment has long been a convenient excuse for politicians to continue participating in government projects.

Reports have surfaced that some politicians act as contractors for their own government-funded infrastructure projects, raising renewed concerns about persistent conflicts of interest and corruption in the national budget process.

“May mga ulat na ilang politiko ay sangkot o nasa likod ng mga ghost projects o ang tinatawag kong ‘ampaw’ projects. We must examine what their connection is to these anomalous undertakings,” Gatchalian said.

The Senate Finance Committee Chair acknowledged the scale of the challenge: “We’re talking about 9,000 projects and these are just flood-control projects. We’re not even counting roads, highways, and other infrastructure works,” he added.